Fear of advocacy funding cut has ‘chilling effect’

Advocacy experts have warned that slashing funding to interest groups could damage society and said many in the sector believed their funding was at risk if they were too critical of Government departments and State agencies.

The Advocacy Initiative, itself funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, said fears of funding cuts were having “a chilling effect” on the sector. The organisation made its comments following a week in which the Irish Patients’ Association was informed by the HSE that its core funding will disappear from next April.